BTRC Plots 2G Sunset and Mandatory Handset Registry to Curb Grey‑market Phones

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is examining a plan to phase out 2G networks between 2028 and 2029 as 4G coverage already blankets 98 percent of the country. Yet some 40 percent of mobile users still rely on 2G feature phones, the regulator said.

Although virtually all legally sold handsets are now assembled locally, only 34 percent of smartphones in use are domestically produced, while 41 percent of all phones reach Bangladesh through illicit channels—costing the exchequer an estimated ৳20 billion (about US $180 million) in lost duties each year, according to the National Board of Revenue.

NEIR finally on the launchpad

To dismantle the grey market and make smartphones more affordable—potentially through instalment plans—BTRC intends to register every handset via a long‑awaited National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). The system, first mooted three years ago, could go live in the third quarter of this year, officials indicated.

A fresh open tender closes on 27 April; a notice of award is due within 90 days. This time registration will validate three identifiers: the phone’s IMEI, the subscriber’s MSISDN/SIM number, and a document ID such as national ID or birth certificate.

BTRC spectrum chief Brig Gen Aminul Haque said NEIR will:

• block stolen or cloned devices,

• protect the nascent local handset industry,

• plug duty evasion by stopping illegal imports,

• prevent deceitful resale of refurbished phones, and

• give law‑enforcement real‑time access to genuine user data.

Affordability still the hurdle

BTRC admits smartphone cost remains the main barrier to digital inclusion—SIM‑penetration stands at 103 percent, yet smartphone adoption lags below 60 percent, far behind comparable Asia‑Pacific economies. The commission therefore favours SIM‑ or device‑locking instalment schemes once NEIR is active, allowing citizens to pay for certified phones over time without risking default.

Whether the ambitious registry and financing model can be deployed at scale should become clear within the next seven months, when BTRC is expected to announce a firm NEIR launch date.